RR VS PBKS MATCH 65

Right then, that's it from the coverage of this game. The Indian T20 League will continue on 16th May, 2024 when Hyderabad will be locking horns against Gujarat in match number 66 of this season. The first ball will be at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye.

The skipper of Punjab, Sam Curran is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with both bat and ball. He says that they bowled really well as a group. Shares that the message was about playing for pride. Mentions that Nathan Ellis was amazing and showed what a class player he is. Tells that they did not need to take risks on this small ground. Informs that he and Jonny Bairstow are leaving after this game. Adds that he has thoroughly enjoyed captaining and the atmosphere has been brilliant throughout the season. States that he is really excited and buzzing about the World Cup. Reckons that they lost many close games and this season was not meant to be for them. Feels that the record chase was the highlight of the season for them.

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Jitesh Sharma is in for a quick chat. He starts by saying that they did not feel that 140 was gonna be difficult to chase. Adds that he did not even feel that he would bat in this innings. States that he is very happy for himself and his team because of his contribution. Informs that this is a real challenge for the domestic players against Hyderabad when some of the players head back home for the World Cup preparations.

The captain of Rajasthan, Sanju Samson, says that they were aiming for a little bit more and expected a wicket better than this. Opines that it was not a 140 kind of wicket and feels that they should have gotten above 160 with the batting they have. States that they would have ideally wanted a bowler as an Impact Player but it did not affect them much as he is used to having 5 quality bowlers. Tells that they need to find out what is not working as a team. Further says that someone has to put their hand up and win it for the team. Mentions that they need to play smart cricket and build partnerships.

Then came a gritty stand between Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma of 63 runs. Both the batters took a calculative approach and eventually built a solid platform for the death overs. However, some tension crept back in when Chahal got the better of Jitesh Sharma in the 16th over of the game. A new batter then stepped up as an Impact Player in Ashutosh Sharma and provided an ideal support to Sam Curran and made sure, the two get their side home. Remember what they say, life comes full circle at you. That's what happened with Avesh Khan. He ended up leaking two maximums in his final over, and that's when the game was sealed as well. Sam Curran mentioned during the interview at the toss, that he wish to head out with pride and he turned out to be a true leader here. He took his side home with a match-winning knock. Rajasthan would be gutted with another winless outing in this competition. They just could not turn up with the bat in hand, despite winning the toss they could only post 144 runs, all thanks to Riyan Parag's knock. The local boy played a valiant knock of 48 runs, but fell short of his half-century in front of his home crowd. Although, if not for him, they would have been staring down the barrel here.

What a contest this one turned out to be. We all thought this target is easily achievable for the chasing side, but well Rajasthan came out all guns-blazing with the ball in hand. It was Avesh Khan who set the tone with the ball in hand, where he picked up two wickets by giving away just 5 runs in his first two overs. Followed by some incredible bowling by their spin-duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, put Punjab in a spot of bother when they lost 4 wickets for not even 50 runs on the scoreboard.

Punjab get the job done! Rajasthan slump to their fourth successive defeat. Avesh bends his back and serves a bumper, around leg, Ashutosh Sharma is early into the pull shot. Toe-ends it behind square on the leg side and that will do for Punjab as the batters cross. Punjab win this encounter with 7 balls to spare and lift themselves off the bottom.

SIX! That's what Ashutosh Sharma can do! This has gone many a mile. Angling in, on a good length, honing in at the stumps, Ashutosh Sharma clears his front leg and picks the bones out of that. Deposits it way over wide long on for a maximum. Scores level now.

Serves it on a yorker length, on middle, Sam Curran squeezes it out to long on and rotates the strike.

SIX! BOOM! Stand and deliver stuff from the Punjab skipper! Avesh bowls it on a back of a length, over middle, Sam Curran is unfazed by the length. Holds his shape and tonks it over wide long on for half a dozen. Punjab nearly there. Just 8 needed off 10.

Bowls it on a shortish length, on off, Ashutosh Sharma stays deep in his crease and throws his hands at it. Gets a thickish outside edge that goes over backward point. A single taken.

SIX! BANG! Sam Curran finishes the over in the best possible fashion! Another over that was going well over Rajasthan but ended in a heartbreaking fashion. Sandeep digs it in short, over middle, not short enough for the batter, Sam Curran dispatches the pull over deep square leg for a maximum. 15 runs needed off the last 2 overs.

Full and angling in, around off, Ashutosh Sharma drills it down to long off. Just like the previous over, 4 runs off the first 5 balls. Will it have the same finish?

Nails the yorker, at the base of the stumps, Ashutosh Sharma gets his bat down in time and jams it out to the right of the bowler.

FIFTY FOR SAM CURRAN! A captain's innings from the English all-rounder and he has led the recovery for his side after a shaky start. The job is not over though and Curran knows it, just a raise of the bat from him. Into the deck, around off, Sam Curran drags the pull to long on for a single.

Pulls his length back but offers no real pace, on middle and leg, Ashutosh Sharma uses his feet and drops it beside the pitch on the leg side for one.